Model Railway Forum

My time as a visitor in the UK is coming to an end. Great visiting some of your model shops. So much better than on line which I am forced to do in Aus. Quite often you do not know what is out there unless you browse through the shelves and find all the little things you did not know existed. Model factory brick wall fencing with gates, ornate chimney pots, model glass houses, barrel stacks. Yes it is possible to find all these things on line but so much better to see them hanging on a shelf and think "I didn't know they made them!"
Attended a couple of exhibitions- a great holiday
Pity about the Aus rugby though- I have had many heartfelt commiserations about that one. Good to see England up there though

Did you find the UK different to back home?

When my mate from Perth came to stay with us with his Australian partner she couldn’t believe the roads. I took them down some narrow country roads and she loved the tree tunnels and the fact that there were trees close to the side of the road. Also the fact that we had old things here, a house near us built in 1347. She said that was only a time in Oz.

I don’t think things could be more different, apart from the fact we both drive on the correct side of the road.

You reminded me of the time I drove an American couple and I took a shortcut down some single track lanes. The guy sank in the passenger seat and was in the footwell. I was only doing around 20mph. He said "What happens if something comes the other way?" I said "We stop". He said that over there there are no hedgerows near the road and single track lanes are a case of one just drives on the side to pass other vehicles. He was soo nurvous! He said our main roads are the width of their farm tracks. Poor guy. His wife was sitting in the back and she thought it was hillarious.

My daughter and her family live in Surrey. We try to get here each year. But Aus is a long way to anywhere. We spent time in the beautiful Cotswolds, Bath, Londons V&A museum. Favourite places, Debyshire dales, west country, lakes district. In fact I love most of the UK. Once you get used to the fact that the intention is to get to the end of the street without taking off your side mirror, you get the hang of driving.
.Grandson plays rugby for Esher. Great club, good blokes and good rugby.
Maybe not nest year. More likely 2021